New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-05
THE FUN OF THE GAME.
n.Svp.1J,ArT THE POLO GROUNDS.


s,,,,v,r OF EARTHLY GREATNEss-THE PITCH
YER AND THE RAILWAY GUARD.
d +, reason for everything, and when one has
,cd uron the pitcher OF the Newi orx GIANTS ID tne
s ,orv of action, no longer wonder that the
jcan bosom heaves with pride at the mention OF the
- Ra seball" There can be no doubt that the only
III Greatest men earth are baseball pitchers Some
- may dispute this. Somebody may call TO mlnd
n'at banehty individual who stands with his arms
800 mon the platforms OF the elevated trains, pic
NJ superiorty and proud reserve and who without
comforting upon the poor and lowly public so nuch OF
80, "a his slightest glance would afford, strikes terror
"a admiration in all hearts as he boldly shouts DIS
NAV to de ferry! Dat way to de street! one OF ,he
,ordliest functions OF this eminent man Is 10 s% ny
,ba gates OF the cars and scare nid people most 10
aaa,S With the thunders of his Lively now! Hey.
There! Stand Backll Passengers on'' q" Ao0""
poru r. .rRsu RIGHT HERE!!'
whit Rang, Ding! He waves his hand the very
". a,s him a courtesy with its smokestack and
humbly obeys. 10. l., - so,,
~ authoritative whose mien is so defiant, whose tread
On stately and whose sway so potent Is necessarily
formidable rival of the baseball pitcher. well remem-
, an occasion when greatness of the elevated rail-
Nov ouard was impressed upon admiring host so pro-
foundy that one could In every small boy race the
differentiation TO forego his previous intention 10 De
nrate and to centre all his hopes upon the glorious
NJ an
CITY Hall Station crowded with passengers The starting
hsl had sounded and the guard had waved his command
Rut there was ano Their train crossing the track,
nd tho submissive engine hesitated between mourning
the guards dispeasure and running into the lmpeuns
train It herolcay chose the former alternative anu
waited The guard frowned and bit his naughty Up
1ust at that moment handsome stalwart man accom-
ranied by charmngly dressed lady came running up
both nannc from the effects Of their hurry They were
evidently late for something and in the greatest haste 10
get uptown. ,,
aPlease LET US in! gasped the gentleman addressing
the guard That august fnconary turned his head hat
around gave one contemptuous glance OF the supphan
and then gazed magnifcenny away
Every one naturally expected to see the poor Hah
sron upon his knee and crawl for pardon But the gods
had clearly made him mad. "Let me in!' he cried
angrily
To every ones amazement the guard did not strike him
dead He merely folded his arms aud fell into NOBLE
revery The Inflated gentleman seemed bent upon his
own destruction Don't you hear me tell you 10 open
the gates and let me in I " he roared.
What was it thai stayed the hand Of that guard Every
one shuddered, but he only looked into vacancy.
Then the gentleman completely lost his senses Let
me in you blanled blank blank of blank he cried
sDon't you see I've got lady with me ~
The spectators held their breaths and closed their
ewes dreadng to see what certainly But at
that moment thank Heaven the train moved and before
the avensing lightning OF that indignant guards ire
could strike the cars had passed away.
OF course with the memory Of such this be-
fore ones eyes, IL is impossible to deny the elevated rail-
way guard great place In human affairs but still ne Is
outranked by the baseball pitcher To see the pitcher as
he stands sereney upon his sanded square, fine frenzy
cleaning from his eyes and datng his nostris TO see
him twirl the ball in his fingers and glance cautiously
about him on either sde the proud look he gives
in the direction Of the ladies stand where youth and
beauty have met to do him honor TO see sudden par
oxyism wrench his mighty frame and twist 1t into
doublebow knot from which it emerges flushed limp but
still sublime while the little ball shoots ercey forth
and takes the unsuspecting batter in the pit Of his
stomach and lays him incontnenty In heap on the
ground all this is to look of the grand
es; spectacles human genius affords
game OF baseball on the Polo Grounds is Of the
great sights of NewYork The very grounds are sight.
stretching way until in the furthest corner
assumes perspective of fly on the post beside You
The crowd of spectators is a sight Oh bright sunny
afternoon when the game is between good clubs they
come In thousands. The average audiences OF all the
theatres in New-York emped into one could be easily
seated the chairs and the benches provided at the
Polo Grounds Ten thousand persons frequently attend
the match games is surprising how many people find
time to CO. 1t is a very democratic assembly. The Wall
Street with his handsome cnaway coat his shiny
hat ghtchecked trousers and his paen'leather
shoes sits conentedly beside the verest tough from
Havana mingles good naturally with the dull white
cloud that flows from his neighbours Bowery twoers
The dude from the Union Club gayly bespangled with
polka dots and tns of yellow and barOarOus green ana
redoleDt with the perfumes of Arabia AMI the far East
communes freely with tine garrulous and enthusiastic
Office boy who is evidently eXtinguishing his business
cares represented in package and half dozen letters
that bulge from his pockets in the excitement OF the
game. They chat amiably:
Jaw. little chap. who's that fellaw theahl !"
De bOke wild dc bat ="
"No, Meah!"
"Oh, him. OATS de empire. Tell We wot, too, he's got
heads bigs barn"
"weally! He don't look so. little chappie Deuced
pretty girl yOnder."
"Her wild de black hat and de red flowers Well,
should smile Amt she dc gentle daisy nowi Her an
mes friends"
"Ah, now, you don't say Pwaps you'll pwesent me "
"Heyl"
"Why, intwoduce me, y knaw"
"wotcher givin usi" I'm onto you, Doody an I'm
teln' you dat we can't do no mashin' dere She's a
actress, she is up to de, but guess I'm not givin
away de teaytre, an she comes yere mos evry day
wait she roun Now watch fer de smile she gives
me. All Doo-y amt dat bully one Look at dem eyes
Hey she's calm fer she's got some peanuts. It's
cole day Wen dc Fort Ward gifts left You needn't be
smirfn' like dat She amt got no eyes fer YOU She
sizes you up fer fiat. Bye bye, Doody"
The ladies' gallery Is high above the grand stand and
Is well filled at every game Many of its habitues
women OF fashion and prominence In New York society.
There indeed quite much variety in the faces of the
who go TO baseball matches as In those OF the
They shop girls, and young women of wealth
and culture actresses. serving girls sweethearts OF
every description who because their lovers enjoy the
game; elderly women whose thoughts might well be
dwelling the spiritual things OF life and little maidens
In their bossoming teens The faded shawl and sloveny